By Bunmi Yekini
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have joined forces to combat the alarming effects of climate change on winter sports and tourism. Announced on October 3, 2024, this partnership seeks to raise awareness about the significant threats posed by rising global temperatures, which could drastically alter the future of snow-covered landscapes and winter recreational activities.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Ruined winter vacations and cancelled sports fixtures are, literally, the tip of the iceberg of climate change. Retreating glaciers, reduced snow and ice cover, and thawing permafrost are having a major impact on mountain ecosystems, communities, and economies and will have increasingly serious repercussions at local, national, and global levels for centuries to come.”
This partnership marks the first time a United Nations agency has collaborated with an international sports federation. A new Memorandum of Understanding commits both organizations to work hand-in-hand, utilizing WMO’s data and expertise to drive tangible change in the realm of winter sports.
FIS President Johan Eliasch highlighted the critical nature of the collaboration, noting, “The climate crisis is obviously far bigger than FIS, or sports, for that matter: it is a genuine crossroads for mankind. It is true, though, that climate change is, simply put, an existential threat to skiing and snowboarding. We would be remiss if we did not pursue every possible effort that is rooted in science and objective analysis.”
The urgency of the partnership is emphasised by alarming statistics from the recent 2023/24 ski season, during which FIS organized 616 World Cup races across 166 venues, yet faced the cancellation of 26 events due to weather-related issues. With predictions that without snowmaking, many ski resorts in Europe could be at severe risk of snow supply under projected global warming scenarios, the need for proactive measures has never been more critical.
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The agreement, effective ahead of the 2024/2025 winter season, will unfold over five years and is poised to facilitate various joint initiatives. The first event, a webinar scheduled for November 7, will gather 137 National Ski Associations, venue managers, and event organizers to discuss climate change impacts on snow and ice and share advancements in snow management forecasting tools.
A series of recent studies underscores the urgency of this initiative. Research published in Nature Climate Change highlights that without snowmaking, a staggering 53% to 98% of ski resorts in Europe could face severe snow supply risks under rising global temperatures. In Switzerland, home to both FIS and WMO, climate change scenarios reveal alarming trends: alpine glaciers have lost approximately 60% of their volume since 1850, and snowfall days at lower altitudes have been halved since 1970.
As the zero-degree level rises from 600 meters to 850 meters over the past five decades, projections indicate it could climb an additional 400 to 650 meters by 2060 without significant climate action. This change threatens not just winter sports but the very fabric of communities that rely on the economic and cultural benefits of snow and ice.